Strip marking assembly

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is disclosed for placing marks or indicia on strips of inscribable material such as photographic film. The apparatus includes a motor for providing rotational torque, a stylus with an offset portion for marking the strip, an assembly for converting the rotational torque of the motor into a rectilinear motion and for coupling the rectilinear motion to the stylus, and a bracket having a surface brought into engagement with the offset portion of the stylus to thereby bring the stylus into contact with the strip.

United States Patent Malkiewicz [451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54 j STRIP MARKINGASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Matthew F. Malkiewicz, New Foundland,

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,

[22] Filed: Oct. 1,1969

21 Appl. No.: 862,712

[52] [1.8. CI. ..353/44, 33/18 R, 352/130 [51] Int. Cl. i ..G03b 21/26[58] Field ofSearch ..352/130, 1;353/l20, 44; 346/77; 33/18 R, 20 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,859,659 11/1958 Fenske et a1...33/20 UX 3,324,762 6/1967 Walter et a1. ..353/120 X 3,441,941 4/1969Bullwinkel et al. ..346/77 X 3 ,492,728 2/1970 Morse 2,239,532 4/1941McClay ..352/1 X Primary ExaminerS. Clement Swisher AssistantExaminerJoseph W. Roskos AttorneyRobert W. Hampton and R. Lewis Cable[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus is disclosed for placing marks or indicia onstrips of inscribable material such as photographic film. The apparatusincludes a motor for providing rotational torque. a stylus with anoffset portion for marking the strip, an assembly for converting therotational torque of the motor into a rectilinear motion and forcoupling the rectilinear motion to the stylus. and a bracket having asurface brought into engagement with the offset portion of the stylus tothereby bring the stylus into contact with the strip.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented March 21, 1912 3,650,612

3 Sheets-$heet 1 MATTHEW F MALKIEWICZ INVENTOR.

AT TORNE YS Patented March 21, 1972 3,650,612

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MATTHEW F. MALKIEWICZ INVENTOR.

BY fl w Whiz M ATTORNEYS Patented March 21, 1972 3,650,612

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 V55 1 FIG.6

MATTHEW E MALKIEWICZ INVENTOR.

BY QM fl WWQM ATTORNEYS STRIP MARKING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatusfor marking and in particular, to apparatus for and the method ofmarking imagebearing media such as microfilms.

2. Description of the Prior Art The use of microfilm provides awell-known method of storing great quantities of information. Typically,a strip of photographic film is exposed with a series of images orframes containing the information to be stored. In this manner, greatquantities of information can be stored on a strip of photographic filmwhich is wound onto a reel or cartridge,

Microfilm has may applications where it is necessary or desirable tocontinuously update the stored information by inserting or deletinginformation. This could be accomplished by simply rephotographing all ofthe original documents onto a new strip of photographic film; however,this would defeat one of the main purposes, i.e., to eliminate theretention and storage of a great number of documents. Instead, it ismore desirable to remove the outdated frames of information and toinsert a new strip of film containing the new information.

Information from microfilm may be typically displayed upon a projectiondevice known as a reader or viewer. A cartridge or a reel containing awound strip of microfilm may be inserted into the reader and the stripunwound until the desired frame or portion of the strip has been found.It would be desirable to permit the observer to mark the frames orportions of a strip of microfilm that are to be deleted as they arebeing displayed upon the reader.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a projectiondevice with a strip marking assembly which may be easily actuated toplace a mark upon a selected portion of a strip of an informationbearing medium.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a marking assemblycapable of placing a mark of a selected length into a desired depth uponthe strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects are accomplished inaccordance with the teachings of this invention by providing a markingassembly to be used with a strip projection device for placing indiciaor marks on selected frames or portions of the strip. In particular, themarking assembly includes a motor for providing a rotational torque, astylus to be driven with a rectilinear movement, means for convertingthe rotational torque of the motor to a rectilinear motion and forapplying the rectilinear motion to the stylus, and a bracket having asurface into which a recessed or offset portion of the stylus isreceived to thereby bring the stylus into contact with the strip. In oneillustrative embodiment of this invention, the marking assembly may beused in conjunction with a projection device so that the ob server mayactuate the motor to thereby place a mark upon the portion of the stripbeing viewed. Further, suitable means are provided for adjusting theheight and lateral position ofthe stylus with respect to the strip tothereby respectively control the length and depth of mark made upon thestrip.

The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparentin the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a portion of a strip marked by an assemblyin accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially broken away, showing the markingassembly in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top, plan view of the marking assembly shown in FIG. 2;

control the operation of the marking assembly of FIGS. 2 and I 3DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With regard to FIGS. 1 and 6,there is shown a strip 32 of an inscribable material, such asphotographic film which is to be selectively inscribed with a mark 33.The strip 32 may be unwound from a supply reel 66, directed through astrip gate 38, and wound upon a takeup reel 64. The strip 32 has aplurality of frames 31 containing various information or indiciathereon. With reference to FIG. 2, the strip 32 is directed through thestrip gate 38 until the desired frame 31 is found. The selected framemay be projected onto a display surface or screen 72 by a projectionassembly including a projection lamp 68 and an objective or lens 70.

When it is desired to remove one of the frames from the I strip 32, themark 33 may be disposed on the frame to be removed by energizing a stripmarking assembly 10. The strip markingassembly 10 includes a motor 12for imparting a rotational motion or torque to a driven shaft 14. Inturn, the driven shaft l4is connected to an eccentric member 16 as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3 to impart a rotational motion thereto. The eccentricmember 16 is connected by a rod 18 projecting therefrom into a movableplate 20. As more clearly shown in FIG. 3, the plate 20 has a slot 22therein for receiving the rod 18. Four posts 74 form a path along whichthe plate 20 is driven in a rectilinear fashion as the eccentric member16 is rotated. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate 20 is confined bythe posts 74, and also by a mounting plate 27.

A stylus 24 is mounted upon the plate 20 so that a point 25 of thestylus 24 may selectively engage the strip 32 to thereby place the mark33 thereon. More specifically, a retaining plate 28 is secured to theplate 20 by suitable connecting means 30 such as a bolt and nut tothereby retain the stylus 24 between the plates 20 and 28. The retainingplate 28 has a slot 29 therein for receiving an end portion 23 of thestylus 24. As will be noted later, the end portion 23, and thus thestylus 24, may be laterally adjusted to thereby control the length ofthe mark 33 on the strip 32. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the stylus 24has a recessed or offset portion 26 which, when the stylus 24 is movedtoward the strip 32, allows the point 25 to come into engagement withthe strip 32. More specifically, the stylus 24 is mounted upon a plate20 so as to be flexed or biased toward a bracket 34. The bracket 34 hasa U-shaped groove 36 therein for receiving and for controlling therectilinear motion imparted to the stylus 24 by the plate 20. As can beseen in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the stylus is moved toward the filmstrip 32,the recessed portion 26 will fall or be directed into the groove 36thereby allowing the point 25 to come into contact with an emulsion 32aof the strip 32 of photographic film. As shown in FIG. 2, the positionof the bracket 34, and therefore, the depth of the mark 33 imparted tothe strip 32, may be selectively adjusted by a set screw 35 threadablyreceived in the mounting plate 27. More specifically, the bracket 34 issecured to a spring mounting member 44, which is in turn fixedly locatedupon the mounting plate 27. The mounting plate 27 has an opening 46therein through which the spring mounting member 44 extends. The member44 is so constructed and mounted to flex to the left as shown in FIG. 2thereby abutting against the adjustable screw 35. Thus, as theadjustable screw 35 is rotated, the position of the spring mountingmember 44 and thus the bracket 44 may be selectively adjusted to therebycontrol the depth of the mark 33.

When the motor 12 is actuated, a rotational motion is applied to theeccentric member 16 and a rectilinear motion is applied to the plate 20and the stylus 24. With regard to FIG.

2, the stylus 24 moves in a substantially vertical direction through apassage 42 in the strip gate 38 to thereby come into engagement with thestrip 32. The strip 32 is disposed within a pair of grooves 40, whichdefine the path along which the strip 32 moves. As the stylus 24 ismoved upwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, the recessed portion 26 slides intothe groove 36 of the bracket 34, thereby bringing the plate 25 intocontact with the emulsion 32a of the strip 32. As the stylus 24continues to be driven upwardly, the point 25 inscribes the mark 33 inthe strip 32. Next, the stylus will be moved downward by the plate 20until a cam surface 26a of the stylus 26 engages the bracket 34 therebylifting the point 25 from the strip 32. The length of the mark 33 may becontrolled by the point of connection of the stylus 24 to the plate 20.As seen in FIG. 2, the mounting plate 27 may be selectively secured tothe plate 20 thereby adjustably connecting the stylus 24 with respect toplate 20. Thus, if the stylus 24 is mounted at a lower position on theplate 20, as seen in FIG. 2, a shorter mark 33 will be inscribed on thestrip 32.

With regard to FIG. 5, the point 25 of the scribe 24 has a shapedesigned to facilitate the cutting or scratching of the emulsion 32a ofthe strip 32. More specifically, the point 25 includes a chisel-like,cutting edge b and a rounded surface 25a sloping away from the edge 25bat an angle a. The point is shaped and positioned to resemble a chiselso that it may readily be moved with little or no drag to the left andmay be moved to the right as seen in FIG. 5 to cut the emulsion 32a. Theangle a of the surface 25a with respect to the surface of the emulsion32a is preferably set between 10 and 30 to minimize the amount of forceperpendicular to the surface of the emulsion 32a required to make thecut. Further, the surface of the opening 36 may be coated with asuitable friction reducing material such as a plasma-sprayed ceramic.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of acircuit for controlling the operation of the strip marking assembly 10.The operation of the strip marking assembly 10 begins with the closingof a redundant switch 50 from its first to its second position tothereby apply a suitable potential source 76 across a solenoid 52. Thesolenoid 52 is coupled to operate a plurality of contacts 53, 54, 55, 56and 57. In particular, when solenoid 52 is energized, normally opencontacts 53 are closed thereby applying a potential to the motor 12; asa result, motor 12 is energized and begins to rotate the eccentricmember 16. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the eccentric member 16 has arecess 60 for receiving a follower arm 63 of the switch 62. When theeccentric member 16 begins to rotate, the follower arm 63 is raised,thereby closing the switch 62, i.e., placing switch 62 in its secondposition. Further, when the solenoid 52 is initially energized, normallyopen contacts 54 are closed. As switch 62 is closed, a second conductivepath is provided for the application of the voltage source 76 to thesolenoid 52. As a result, when switch 50 is released, a potential willstill be applied to activate solenoid 52. The motor 12 will continue torotate through a full turn, thereby placing the mark 33 on the strip 32,until the follower arm 63 falls into the recess 60 to open switch 62. Atthis point, the source 76 will be disconnected from the solenoid 52 andthe contacts 53 will return to their normal position therebydeenergizing the motor 12. In addition, a suitable potential (not shown)may be selectively applied through contacts 57 and 56 to the motors 59and 58 which are mechanically coupled respectively to the reels 64 and66. Thus, when the potential source 76 is applied to the solenoid 52,the normally closed contacts 56 and 57 are opened, thereby preventingthe operation of the motors 58 and 59 and therefore the movement of astrip 32 while the stylus 24 is placing a mark 33 on the strip 32. Whenthe potential is removed from the solenoid 52, the contacts 56 and 57are closed thereby allowing a potential to be applied to the motors 58and 59.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Iclaim:

1. In a device for projecting images carried bya strip of in formationbearing media, apparatus for placing marks on the media comprising:

a. a projection station for receiving the strip of information bearingmedia;

b. means for positioning a selected portion of the information bearingmedia at said projection station;

0. stylus means for placing marks on the selected portion of theinformation bearing media disposed at said projection station, saidstylus means being movable in rectilinear motion between a firstposition and a second position, said stylus means having a recessedportion;

d. a bracket member having a contact surface, said stylus means beingresiliently disposed against said contact-surface so that as said stylusmeans is moved to said second position, said recessed portion isdisposed against said contact surface to thereby place said stylus meansagainst the information bearing media;

e. a resilient member abutting said bracket, said resilient memberengaging adjustment means for adjusting bias of said resilient memberagainst said bracket, the bias of said resilient member positioning saidbracket into engagement with said stylus means for controlling movementof said recessed portion into engagement with said bracket to therebycontrol the depth of the mark;

a rotatable member;

. a motor coupled to said rotatable member for providing rotationalmotion of said member;

. linkage means coupling said stylus means and said rotatable member,said linkage means providing rectilinear motion of said stylus meansbetween said first and second positions as said rotatable member rotatesa preselected number of revolutions; and

. control means coupled to said rotatable member for deactivating saidmotor at the end of the preselected number of revolutions.

2. Apparatus for placing marks on information bearing media, saidapparatus comprising:

a. rotatable motor means;

b. stylus means for placing marks on information bearing media, saidstylus means having a recessed portion, and being movable in arectilinear motion between a first position and a second position;

c. a guide member having a contact surface, said stylus means beingresiliently disposed against said contact surface so that as said stylusmeans is moved to said second position said recessed portion is disposedagainst said contact surface to thereby place said point against theinformation bearing media;

d. a translational member for supporting said stylus means andresponsive to rotation of said motor means to effect rectilinearmovement of said stylus means;

. means for confining said movement of said translational member to alinear path;

. an eccentric member connected to said motor means for rotation aboutan axis, in response to rotation of said motor means;

g. an elongated member connected to said eccentric member at a pointremote from said axis; and

h. means for coupling said translational member to said elongated memberto thereby direct said translational member along said linear path in arectilinear fashion.

3. Apparatus for placing marks on information bearing media, saidapparatus comprising:

a. rotatable motor means;

b. stylus means for placing marks on information bearing media, saidstylus means having a recessed portion and being movable in arectilinear motion between afirst position and a second position;

0. a guide member having a contact surface, said stylus means beingresiliently disposed against the contact surface so that as said stylusmeans is moved to said second position said recessed portion is disposedagainst said contact surface to thereby place said point against theinformation bearing media;

d. a translational member for supporting said stylus means, said stylusmeans being adjustably mounted thereto for varying the length of themark, said translational member being responsive to said rotation ofsaid motor means to effect rectilinear movement of said stylus means;

e. means for confining said movement of the translational member to alinear path;

f. an eccentric member connected to said motor means for rotation aboutan axis, in response to rotation of said motor means;

g. an elongated member connected to said eccentric member at a pointremote from said axis; and

h. means for coupling said translational member to said elongated memberto thereby direct said translational member along said linear path in arectilinear fashion.

4. Apparatus for placing marks on information bearing media, saidapparatus comprising:

a. rotatable motor means;

b. stylus means for placing marks on information bearing media, saidstylus means having a recessed portion and being movable in arectilinear motion between a first position and a second position;

a guide member having a contact surface, said stylus means beingresiliently disposed against said contact surface so that as said stylusmeans is moved to said second position said recess portion is disposedagainst said contact surface to thereby place said point against theinformation bearing media, and said guide member is adjustably disposedwith respect to said stylus to thereby control the depth of the mark onthe information bearing media;

d. a translational member supporting said stylus means, said stylusmeans being adjustably mounted thereto for varying the length of themark, said translational member being responsive to the rotation of saidmotor means to effect rectilinear movement of said stylus means;

e. means for confining said movement of said translational member to alinear path;

f. an eccentric member rotatably connected to said motor means forrotation about an axis, in response to rotation of said motor means;

g. an elongated member connected to said eccentric member at a pointremote from said axis; and

h. means for coupling said translational member to said elongated memberto thereby direct said translational member along said linear path in arectilinear fashion.

5. Apparatus for placing marks on information bearing 10 media, saidapparatus comprising:

a. rotational motor means;

b. stylus means for placing marks on information bearing media, saidstylus means having a recessed portion and being movable in arectilinear motion between a first position and a second position;

c. a guide member having a contact surface, said stylus means beingresiliently disposed against the contact surface so that as said stylusmeans is moved to said second position said recessed portion is disposedagainst said contact surface to thereby place said point against theinformation bearing media;

d. a translational member for supporting said stylus means, saidtranslational member responsive to said rotation of said motor means foreffecting rectilinear movement of said stylus means;

e. means for confining said movement of the translational member to alinear path;

. an eccentric member rotatably connected to said motor means forrotation about an axis in response to rotation of said motor means;

g. an elongated member connected to said eccentric member at a pointremote from said axis; h; means for coupling said translation member tosaid elongated member to thereby direct said translational member alongsaid linear path in a rectilinear fashion; and

i. switch means responsive to rotation of said eccentric member fordeactivating said motor after one revolution thereof.

1. In a device for projecting images carried by a strip of informationbearing media, apparatus for placing marks on the media comprising: a. aprojection station for receiving the strip of information bearing media;b. means for positioning a selected portion of the information bearingmedia at said projection station; c. stylus means for placing marks onthe selected portion of the information bearing media disposed at saidprojection station, said stylus means being movable in rectilinearmotion between a first position and a second position, said stylus meanshaving a recessed portion; d. a bracket member having a contact surface,said stylus means being resiliently disposed against said contactsurface so that as said stylus means is moved to said second position,said recessed portion is disposed against said contact surface tothereby place said stylus means against the information bearing media;e. a resilient member abutting said bracket, said resilient memberengaging adjustment means for adjusting bias of said resilient memberagainst said bracket, the bias of said resilient member positioning saidbracket into engagement with said stylus means for controlling movementof said recessed portion into engagement with said bracket to therebycontrol the depth of the mark; f. a rotatable member; g. a motor coupledto said rotatable member for providing rotational motion of said member;h. linkage means coupling said stylus means and said rotatable member,said linkage means providing rectilinear motion of said stylus meansbetween said first and second positions as said rotatable member rotatesa preselected number of revolutions; and i. control means coupled tosaid rotatable member for deactivating said motor at the end of thepreselected number of revolutions.
 2. Apparatus for placing marks oninformation bearing media, said apparatus comprising: a. rotatable motormeans; b. stylus means for placing marks on information bearing media,said stylus means having a recessed portion, and being movable in arectilinear motion between a first position and a second position; c. aguide member having a contact surface, said stylus means beingresiliently disposed against said contact surface so that as said stylusmeans is moved to said second position said recessed portioN is disposedagainst said contact surface to thereby place said point against theinformation bearing media; d. a translational member for supporting saidstylus means and responsive to rotation of said motor means to effectrectilinear movement of said stylus means; e. means for confining saidmovement of said translational member to a linear path; f. an eccentricmember connected to said motor means for rotation about an axis, inresponse to rotation of said motor means; g. an elongated memberconnected to said eccentric member at a point remote from said axis; andh. means for coupling said translational member to said elongated memberto thereby direct said translational member along said linear path in arectilinear fashion.
 3. Apparatus for placing marks on informationbearing media, said apparatus comprising: a. rotatable motor means; b.stylus means for placing marks on information bearing media, said stylusmeans having a recessed portion and being movable in a rectilinearmotion between a first position and a second position; c. a guide memberhaving a contact surface, said stylus means being resiliently disposedagainst the contact surface so that as said stylus means is moved tosaid second position said recessed portion is disposed against saidcontact surface to thereby place said point against the informationbearing media; d. a translational member for supporting said stylusmeans, said stylus means being adjustably mounted thereto for varyingthe length of the mark, said translational member being responsive tosaid rotation of said motor means to effect rectilinear movement of saidstylus means; e. means for confining said movement of the translationalmember to a linear path; f. an eccentric member connected to said motormeans for rotation about an axis, in response to rotation of said motormeans; g. an elongated member connected to said eccentric member at apoint remote from said axis; and h. means for coupling saidtranslational member to said elongated member to thereby direct saidtranslational member along said linear path in a rectilinear fashion. 4.Apparatus for placing marks on information bearing media, said apparatuscomprising: a. rotatable motor means; b. stylus means for placing markson information bearing media, said stylus means having a recessedportion and being movable in a rectilinear motion between a firstposition and a second position; c. a guide member having a contactsurface, said stylus means being resiliently disposed against saidcontact surface so that as said stylus means is moved to said secondposition said recess portion is disposed against said contact surface tothereby place said point against the information bearing media, and saidguide member is adjustably disposed with respect to said stylus tothereby control the depth of the mark on the information bearing media;d. a translational member supporting said stylus means, said stylusmeans being adjustably mounted thereto for varying the length of themark, said translational member being responsive to the rotation of saidmotor means to effect rectilinear movement of said stylus means; e.means for confining said movement of said translational member to alinear path; f. an eccentric member rotatably connected to said motormeans for rotation about an axis, in response to rotation of said motormeans; g. an elongated member connected to said eccentric member at apoint remote from said axis; and h. means for coupling saidtranslational member to said elongated member to thereby direct saidtranslational member along said linear path in a rectilinear fashion. 5.Apparatus for placing marks on information bearing media, said apparatuscomprising: a. rotational motor means; b. stylus means for placing markson information bearing media, said stylus means having a recessedportion and being movable in a rectilinear motion between a firstpositiOn and a second position; c. a guide member having a contactsurface, said stylus means being resiliently disposed against thecontact surface so that as said stylus means is moved to said secondposition said recessed portion is disposed against said contact surfaceto thereby place said point against the information bearing media; d. atranslational member for supporting said stylus means, saidtranslational member responsive to said rotation of said motor means foreffecting rectilinear movement of said stylus means; e. means forconfining said movement of the translational member to a linear path; f.an eccentric member rotatably connected to said motor means for rotationabout an axis in response to rotation of said motor means; g. anelongated member connected to said eccentric member at a point remotefrom said axis; h. means for coupling said translation member to saidelongated member to thereby direct said translational member along saidlinear path in a rectilinear fashion; and i. switch means responsive torotation of said eccentric member for deactivating said motor after onerevolution thereof.